October 14 – Tiny Andorra’s 21-year wait for a first European Championship qualifying win is over after they defeated Moldova 1-0 on Friday.
Andorra, ranked 139th in the world, had lost all 56 of their previous European qualifying matches since taking on Armenia on September 5, 1998.
But Marc Vales’ 63rd-minute header was enough to deliver just his nation’s third competitive victory in 23 years and only their seventh win in all competitions since joining FIFA and UEFA in 1996.
Against 10 men for the final 35 minutes following Radu Ginsari’s dismissal, Koldo Alvarez’s side held on for an historic win at despite having just 30% of the possession to move off the bottom of Group H.
The principality, one of European football’s traditionally whipping boys, travel to play Iceland tonight where normal service will doubtless be resumed. But at least they have broken an unwanted streak to strike a blow for the Continent’s minnows.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1735132674labto1735132674ofdlr1735132674owedi1735132674sni@w1735132674ahsra1735132674w.wer1735132674dna1735132674